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The Outsiders Essay

Sometimes it’s hard to except the truth. In the novel, The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, Ponyboy, a member of the Greasers, suffers through losing two people that were very close to him in the same night. He has a rough time excepting that Johnny (one of the people that died) is actually gone, and tries to convince himself that he’s not. Through out the book, Pony is caring, a dreamer, and scared, which helps him become the better person he is, and help him move on.

Ponyboy is caring towards both greasers and socs. Randy ask if he can talk to Ponyboy before the rumble, and Ponyboy is caring enough that he tells Two-bit it’s okay so he walks over to Randy, and that’s when Randy asks him, “I read about you in the paper, how come?” (115) This shows that Pony is caring to the socs also because he lets Randy talk to him the day before the rumble, even though they are suppose to be rivals. Johnny asks Ponyboy if he can get some hair grease and another copy of Gone with the wind, so Ponyboy asks Dally, "He wants a copy of Gone with the wind so I can read it to him, you want to run down to the drug-store and get one?" (120-121) By doing the favor of asking Dally to get another copy of the book, it shows that he wants to do anything for Johnny, because he cares for him especially since the situation of Johnny's. All together this proves that because of all Pony has went threw, he has shown how kind he is to all people.

He also shows that he is a dreamer. Ponyboy is remembering just the day before dreaming how all of that could happen and they did one last thing and it ruined the good memory when he tells Johnny, "Remember how he was wisecrackin' last night? Last night... just last night we were walkin' Cherry and Marcia over to Two-Bit's. Just last night we were layin’ in the lot, lookin' up at the stars and dreaming..." (64) By saying all of this, Ponyboy forgets about the situation is at in the moment showing that he is a dreamer. Ponyboy's dreaming about living in the country. Wondering how his life would be there, and not being a greaser. With his whole family, mom and dad included, his own dog and sodas horse, but get interrupted when Johnny says, "Pony. Hey, Pony, wake up." (48) By thinking about a life he is clearly not living, Pony shows us that he would rather much like to live his dream life, showing he is a dreamer. With all of this, it shows us that Pony likes to dream.

Lastly, Pony shows that he scared, even if it means of the truth. Randy came into Ponyboy’s house the day before the court, and Randy’s telling Ponyboy he didn’t do anything wrong and that it was Johnny who killed Bob and Ponyboy replies with, “I had it. I had the knife. I killed Bob.” (141) This confuses Randy, but it also shows that Pony doesn’t want to live with truth because he is scared. Ponyboy sees Bob's dead body just laying there dead and instantly feels sick. He thinks to himself... this can't be happening... this can't be happening... this can't be... and that's when he has the courage to ask, "You really killed him, huh, Johnny?" (49-50) By having to find courage to speak, and trying to convince himself the truth isn't the truth it shows us that Pony is scared. All of this gatherd up proves to us that Pony is indeed scared throughout the book.

With all these examples it clearly show hoe Ponyboy has changed he personality to a better person. This change is what allows Ponyboy to look into the future without having to look back. Ponyboy’s example shows that, even if something tragic happens, like losing two close people in the same night to you there is still hope for a future for you, and you can improve and become better.